The programme has been announced for this year’s Dark Skies Festival, across both the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks.

The festival, which takes place within the International Dark Sky Reserves of both areas between February 10 and 26, will feature many free and low cost events.

A new collaboration with Scarborough Pride to mark LGBTQ+ history month means that festival-goers can join a free Lantern Walk through Robin Hood’s Bay while discovering more about Britain’s queer heritage.

Families can go on a stargazing safari evening in the company of local astronomers at Catton near Thirsk, follow the 1.5km Planet Trail to find scale replicas of the planets while walking through woodland alongside the waterfalls at Aysgarth, or use investigative skills to find nocturnal creatures at both Danby Lodge and Sutton Bank.

For a small cost, there is a mindful night walk on the clifftops above Whitby, ghost walks at Robin Hood’s Bay, space-themed crafting sessions at Hawes, Helmsley, Danby and Sutton Bank, a star party at the Wensleydale Ice Cream Parlour, and sessions with Tees Valley Wildlife Trust where people can make habitat-friendly items for nocturnal wildlife such as hedgehogs and bats.

 

Danby Beacon, pictured by Tony Marsh

Danby Beacon, pictured by Tony Marsh

 

For thrill-seekers there are night bike rides, an afternoon event where youngsters can cycle along a planet and star-adorned trail before making planet pizzas at Stage1 Cycles in Hawes, a 10km fell run near Reeth, canoeing at Scar House Reservoir in Nidderdale, and an after-dark trail run followed by a yoga session at Danby.

For those looking for a slower pace, there are various guided night walks from spots including Horton in Ribblesdale, Goathland, the Hole of Horcum and Lastingham, and mindfulness sessions at Dalby Forest and Rievaulx.

The rest of the programme includes astronomy sessions in Dalby Forest, Sutton Bank, Ingleborough and Stump Cross Caverns, where guests venture underground afterwards for a cave tour, plus nightscape and astro photography sessions at locations such as Reeth, Malham Cove, Ribblehead Viaduct, Castle Howard or Whitby.

Emily Watson, Visitor development and marketing assistant for the North York Moors National Park, said: “This year’s festival is geared towards helping people connect more strongly with our pristine dark skies, enabling them to gain a new perspective by visiting popular daytime beauty spots at night instead, learn in a fun environment just how important the natural world depends on darkness and simply enjoy the awesome sight of a sky filled with thousands of stars.”

Helen Dalton, tourism officer for the Yorkshire Dales National Park, added: “There are some fantastic ways that people can enjoy a great value outing during the festival, whether it’s a daytime family event or an evening where they can literally have an ‘out of this world’ experience."

For more information, see www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk.